[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 180 (Tuesday, September 17, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 57047-57049]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-22295]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2013-0119; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-034-AD;
Amendment 39-17541; AD 2013-16-03]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model AS350 and AS355 helicopters, to
require inspecting for a crack in the control lever attachment yokes,
and if needed, replacing the tail rotor gearbox (TGB). This AD is
prompted by improper casting of TGB casing assemblies, which may lead
to cracking. A crack in the control lever attachment yokes could cause
a loss of tail rotor pitch control, and consequently, loss of control
of the helicopter.
DATES: This AD is effective October 22, 2013.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain documents listed in this AD as of October 22,
2013.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact
American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 N. Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX
75052; telephone (972) 641-0000 or (800) 232-0323; fax (972) 641-3775;
or at http://www.eurocopter.com/techpub. You may review the referenced
service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel,
Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas
76137.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov or in person at the Docket Operations Office
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the foreign authority's AD,
any incorporated-by-reference service information, the economic
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street
address for the Docket Operations Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is U.S.
Department of Transportation, Docket Operations Office, M-30, West
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
Washington, DC 20590.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Grant, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Safety Management Group, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth,
Texas 76137; telephone 817-222-5110; email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
On February 11, 2013, at 78 FR 9634, the Federal Register published
our notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to amend 14
CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to Eurocopter Model AS350
and AS355 helicopters. The NPRM proposed to require inspecting for a
crack in the control lever attachment yokes, and if needed, replacing
the TGB. The proposed requirements were intended to prevent a crack in
the control lever attachment yokes, which could cause a loss of tail
rotor pitch control, and consequently, loss of control of the
helicopter.
The NPRM was prompted by AD No. 2011-0104, dated May 27, 2011,
issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, to correct
an unsafe condition for the Eurocopter Model AS 350 and AS 355
helicopters. EASA advises that cracks were found on some TGB casing
[[Page 57048]]
assemblies when a dye-penetrant inspection was performed after the
machining of the control lever attachment yokes. The inspection
followed the repair of the manufacturing mold. EASA reports that cracks
in the TGB casing assemblies, if not detected and corrected, could lead
to a crack on the control lever attachment yokes, which could cause the
loss of tail rotor pitch control and subsequent loss of control of the
helicopter.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD, but we received no comments on the NPRM (78 FR 9634, February
11, 2013).
FAA's Determination
These helicopters have been approved by the aviation authority of
France and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to
our bilateral agreement with France, EASA, its technical
representative, has notified us of the unsafe condition described in
the EASA AD. We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all
information provided by EASA and determined the unsafe condition exists
and is likely to exist or develop on other helicopters of these same
type designs and that air safety and the public interest require
adopting the AD requirements as proposed except the reference to the
Aerospace Material Specification 2647 or equivalent has been removed
and we are now incorporating by reference procedures for the
Fluorescent Penetrant Inspection. These changes are consistent with the
intent of the proposals in the NPRM (78 FR 9634, February 11, 2013) and
will not increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the
scope of the AD.
Differences Between This AD and the EASA AD
We require inspecting for a crack in the attachment yokes of the
TGB casing assemblies within 100 hours time-in-service (TIS). EASA
requires that the inspection be conducted within 26 months or 660
flight hours if the TGB casing assemblies have less than 550 flight
hours and within 110 flight hours or 13 months if the TGB casing
assemblies have 550 or more flight hours. We do not include the Model
AS350BB helicopter because it is not type certificated in the United
States, but we do include models AS350C and AS350D1.
Related Service Information
Eurocopter issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. AS350-65.00.46
for Model AS350 helicopters and ASB AS355-65.00.22 for AS355
helicopters. Both ASBs are Revision 0 and dated May 18, 2011. The ASBs
call for non-destructive inspections, such as a dye-penetrant
inspection, to check for cracks in the attachment yokes of the TGB
casing assemblies. If there is a crack, the ASBs call for replacing the
TGB with an airworthy TGB and returning the replaced TGB to Eurocopter.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 693 helicopters of U.S. Registry
and that labor costs average $85 per work-hour. We estimate that it
takes two work-hours to inspect TGB casing assemblies for a cost of
$170 per helicopter, and $117,810 for the U.S. fleet. No parts are
needed. Replacing the TGB requires five work hours for a labor cost of
$425. Parts cost $37,825 for a total cost of $38,250 per helicopter.
Authority for This Rulemaking
Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII: Aviation Programs,
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: ``General
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition
that is likely to exist or develop on helicopters identified in this
rulemaking action.
Regulatory Findings
This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order
13132. This AD will not have a substantial direct effect on the States,
on the relationship between the national government and the States, or
on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various
levels of government.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866;
(2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979);
(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska to the extent
that it justifies making a regulatory distinction; and
(4) Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
We prepared an economic evaluation of the estimated costs to comply
with this AD and placed it in the AD docket.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
0
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):
2013-16-03 EUROCOPTER FRANCE HELICOPTERS (EUROCOPTER): Amendment 39-
17541; Docket No. FAA-2013-0119; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-034-
AD.
(a) Applicability
This AD applies to Eurocopter AS350C, D, D1, B, BA, B1, B2, and
B3; and AS355E, F, F1, F2, N, and NP helicopters, with a tailrotor
gearbox (TGB) casing assembly, part number (P/N) 350A33-1090-02 and
serial number (S/N) MA47577, MA47585, MA47587 through MA47593,
MA47597 through MA47600, MA47602, MA47604, MA47606, MA47610,
MA47613, MA47615, MA47617, MA47619 through MA47624, MA47626,
MA47628, or MA47631 installed, certificated in any category.
(b) Unsafe Condition
This AD defines the unsafe condition as a crack in the control
lever attachment yoke of the TGB casing assembly, which could result
in loss of tail rotor pitch control and loss of helicopter control.
(c) Effective Date
This AD becomes effective October 22, 2013.
(d) Compliance
You are responsible for performing each action required by this
AD within the specified compliance time unless it has already been
accomplished prior to that time.
(e) Required Actions
Within 100 hours time-in-service:
(1) Remove the control lever, as depicted in Figure 1, item (b),
of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. AS350-65.00.46
[[Page 57049]]
or No. AS355-65.00.22, both Revision 0 and both dated May 18, 2011,
as applicable for your model helicopter.
(2) Strip the paint from the TGB control lever attachment yokes,
as depicted in Figure 2, item (z), of the ASB No. AS350-65.00.46 or
No. AS355-65.00.22, as applicable to your model helicopter.
(3) Perform a Fluorescent Penetrant Inspection (FPI) in
accordance with paragraph 3.B.2 of ASB No. AS350-65.00.46 or No.
AS355-65.00.22, as applicable to your model helicopter, on the TGB
control lever attachment yokes for a crack. You are only required to
follow the actions defined in this ASB paragraph pertaining to the
FPI.
(4) If a crack exists, before further flight, replace the TGB
with an airworthy TGB.
(5) If there is no crack, clean the inspected area and apply
chemical conversion coating (Alodine 1200 or equivalent), Epoxy
primer, and top coat paint.
(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Robert Grant, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Safety Management Group, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort
Worth, Texas 76137; telephone 817-222-5328; email
[email protected].
(2) For operations conducted under a 14 CFR part 119 operating
certificate or under 14 CFR part 91, subpart K, we suggest that you
notify your principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector,
the manager of the local flight standards district office or
certificate holding district office, before operating any aircraft
complying with this AD through an AMOC.
(g) Additional Information
The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation Safety
Agency AD No. 2011-0104, dated May 27, 2011. You may view the EASA
AD at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating it in
Docket No. FAA-2013-0119.
(h) Subject
Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6520, Tail Rotor
Gearbox.
(i) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this service information as applicable to do
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(i) Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. AS350-65.00.46,
Revision 0, dated May 18, 2011.
(ii) Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. AS355-65.00.22,
Revision 0, May 18, 2011.
(3) For Eurocopter service information identified in this AD,
contact American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 N Forum Drive, Grand
Prairie, TX 75052; telephone (972) 641-0000 or (800) 232-0323; fax
(972) 641-3775; or at http://www.eurocopter.com/techpub.
(4) You may view this service information at FAA, Office of the
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663,
Fort Worth, Texas 76137. For information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.
(5) You may view this service information that is incorporated
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at
NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 26, 2013.
Kim Smith,
Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-22295 Filed 9-16-13; 8:45 am]
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